What’s more important – a Test or a tournament?

Maybe, the Wallabies were actually pretty good in 2004. We were clearly the worst team and should have lost to the Boks at home.

Up until recently, the Boks could never beat Australia in Australia and the Wallabies couldn't win in South Africa. They'd cancel each other out and hand us the trophy on a platter. Anytime we won the Tri-Nations without winning the Bledisloe felt cheap to me and even the times when we'd won it before we'd even left NZ. The best victories where when we went undefeated.

Sure, at Ellis Park in 2004.

well it doesnt quite work that way. And which would SA celebrate more- the RC or the test win only. That answers the question re which is more important here. And should the ABs lose the test but win the RC, theyll come away knowing they achieved the goal they set out for this year- 6-0 was never the ultimate goal here- winning the RC was. If SA think theyll gain self belief from a win at the best possible place on earth they can beat them at then good on them. Two thing the boks need to be careful of if theyre to win either. Their discipline if things arent quite going their way and their backplay/ amount of kicking the ball away. The ABs just need to keep doing what they have been doing- play winning rugby- this side has risen to every big occasion match it has needed to for two years now, bar the Eng match, so theres no need to comment on what they need to do...other than more of what they have been doing. As long as they do that, they should be ok.

Very hard when you consider the state of the South African rand vs. other major currencies Euro, GBP and Yen. That is to keep our top sports people in the republic. There is a saying if you want to get sea sick watch the unstable Rand. She is indeed volatile. So our best sports people are lured overseas en mass. Its got so bad that we could fill another rugga team with all the players we have lost. I guess this is the modern era and after all players are advised by their agents into lucrative contracts. The only saving grace that we have, is the kids dream to don the wear green and gold. Other than that we cant afford our own players. Crazy scenario... And then we have players FDP who openly admit to playing less rugga with less wear and tear, for more money which is tax free if you are overseas for more than 6 months a year. It has become a reality for us to remain in the mix to literally beg them back. We cant afford them.

This test is the tournament. Whoever wins this one is the best side in the world . The last game was a forfeit because of the ref.

Since the last test.

Interesting, given the grand total of ZERO teams scored 90 or more points in any game in the last World Cup. Your memory may be short but Tonga beat eventual finalists France in pool play, but I guess you see no benefit in results like that for the growth of rugby. The "minnows" grow each year, and like many commentators and experts I felt the minnows performed credibly in the last RWC especially considering that they got stiffed with the scheduling (playing matches with short turn-arounds). As a long time rugby fan I genuinely had more interest and excitement in watching the Russia v US game than any of the pool matches between the traditional strong teams. People thought it was mad when the soccer World Cup expanded to 32 teams, and more african teams earned qualification, but that narrow view is long forgotten.

No, you cant!. No world cup winner in the history of tournaments to-date has ever lost any pool matches :)

I think you are absolutely right. If the situation was reverse SA and Aus would be very happy to win the trophy even if they lost the last game. The test match is an important occasion, make no doubt about it, but it is a once off. It gives the fans some kind of bragging rights. But the trophy also means something special as well, For the RC, it is for the best and most consistent team in the championship. I would always want my team to win it, may be except in the world cup year.

Ask the World cup winners who dropped a test match in pool play if that took the gloss off their world cup victory. If any other team was in the All Blacks position losing the test would be a downer for 10 minutes until it was time to claim the trophy. The All Blacks will be gutted if they lose this test, more so then any other team, but the beers will still taste good from the silverware at the end of the day. The RC is still within the reach of South Africa, it would be an absolute disgrace if they did not do everything they could to win it, if it's not that important then they should not be in the competition. Settling for a win while giving up the ultimate prize in doing so is a defeatist attitude. HM has got it exactly right, the opportunity is there for his team to win the RC and going for it is the only option. If the RC means nothing when you lose it, don't start crowing when you win it.

Of course the tournament is important to the All Blacks, realistically SA can't win it anymore, well let's just say it is highly unlikely. But regardless of the Tournament, our first and biggest priority is to win the test.

NO NO NO. Tell me who those NZ'ers are and I'll try my hardest to have them deported to where ever they or there ancestors come from. By the way whats your real name.

They beat the Wallabies twice. Maybe you're right, that isn't that special.

I think the dominance of the All Blacks, and the entry of Argentina, explains the change in attitude in the RC. The Pumas want their first win and everybody wants to topple the AB's.

gotta love the topic. when the ABs won contnually at 7 from 10 though history (8.5 from 10 if we exclude SA & Aussie), but faltered at new 'tournaments' a few times (i.e. newly formed WC's in exeistence since nly '87) all and sundry took absolute pleasure in advising that 'tournament play' is all that matters, and that we choke in 'one offs blah blah'... hahahah... now we are told that a RC title, if we lose the only game of the toutrnament on saturday, is not as important. what ever I think its clear...your view on this topic depends on where your team sits at the time. I personally can't wait for a classic bok v AB game. of course. but if the ABs do lose, and the boks deserve a win, then well done boks. but the ABs taking the tournament title, its still very meaningful given we have not let up - unlike an other WC holders - for 2 years since taking the title. and we've intrduced new talent... still a strong place to be.

Go SA!! I hope they can hold their discipline.

Well, they say the paranoid and well prepared survive. I have too much respect for Bok rugby to ever be dismissive of their chances. There is a very real difference to this current squad. A good mix of youth, experience, power, speed and skill. I'm not sure the formula is quite right yet but the ingredients are there. Throw in players like Burger to return and a very passionate and motivated coaching staff and you have the tools for the job. Feed this group self belief and confidence at your peril i say. I am not suggesting it would be the end of the world for us if they do win this weekend. I expect we would rise to the challenge and respond hard. We always have. But the opportunity to keep the doubt in their minds is there and we need to fight to keep it there. Especially Meyer who has yet to achieve a win ( i think? ) keep the pressure on for as long as we can. If they do win on Saturday you watch them sweep aside all and sundry on the EOYT. If they lose they will probably still sweep the EOYT but I bet they will struggle at times. Never underestimate the power a team can take when delivered a healthy dollop of self belief and confidence. Or I could be talking utter rubbish. ;) just saying cuz. I've been wrong before, il be wrong again just rather be prepared which I know the boys will be. As for the game itself, I don't buy this hell for leather approach being flaunted. I expect the Boks to play the game as it comes and secure the win first and foremost. If 4 try's come so be it but winning will be the order of the day. Are they capable of winning with the four try bonus whilst denying the ABs? Absolutely they are but the damage will need to be done by the forwards and FDP in my view. I believe Steyn is the weak link for the Boks. He is a fine player, no doubt but i do not think he can carry the Boks to 1 for an extended period. He stands too deep for mind and is not the man to unlock the potential of the Bok backs or opposition defences. The ABs back line will have them covered in my view. I can't remember his name ( Goosen? ) will be the very chap to do it and will complete the puzzle. Until then i can't see them playing a wide game for long periods. Just some drivel to consider ;)